ROCKFORD — Rockford School District residents will have their say on whether the district can move forward on a plan to close eight schools and build two new ones at the polls this fall.

The district got the voters’ approval for the money — permission to sell $139 million in bonds to improve schools — in November 2012, but did not get permission to build new ones, something the district must do if it wants to spend any of the money from the bond sales on the new buildings.

The district hopes to place the referendum question on the Nov. 4 ballot. This second referendum will not ask for more money, Rockford Superintendent Ehren Jarrett explained. The question solely will be asked to allow the district to move forward on the new plan and away from previous plans, which were to spend the $139 million, along with other funds, on renovations and repairs of all school buildings.

The new plan heads to the Rockford School Board on July 8. Community members are invited to an information session July 22.

The School Board will vote on the new $250 million 10-year capital plan and placing the referendum on the fall ballot at its Aug. 12 meeting.

There is a way to build new schools in Illinois without a referendum, Jarrett said, but he doesn’t think the board would move in that direction.

“Because it wasn’t part of the 2012 referendum, from what I’m hearing from talking to individual board members, ... I would be surprised if there’s support for anything short of going back to the community to build one or more schools because it’s a deviation from what the voters voted on before,” Jarrett said.

The district’s Facilities Task Force Steering Committee and representatives from the DLR Group, which is helping the district develop its new capital plan, are putting the finishing touches on a recommendation to reduce the number of elementary schools, special program schools and early childhood centers from 35 to 29. The plan calls for the closure of eight schools: Walker, Dennis, King, Kishwaukee, Nelson, Thompson, Cherry Valley and White Swan, and renovations at the remaining 27 schools. The plan also changes Beyer and Nashold elementary schools into pre-kindergarten sites. The two new schools would be in the areas of Kishwaukee and Nelson schools and Cherry Valley and White Swan schools. Renaissance Gifted and Montessori programs would move to new locations. The plan would be implemented over the next five to seven years with no changes taking place in the coming school year.

If the referendum doesn’t pass, the district would need to re-evaluate its capital plan, Jarrett said. He’s hoping a community group will organize to support this referendum as the Better Schools Brighter Future campaign did in 2012.